Torrance police raises will cost city $3.8 million

Torrance taxpayers will pay almost $3.8 million to fund an 8.1 percent raise for police officers, commanders and managers over 42 months.

The new labor agreement that begins Jan. 1 and runs through June 2017 also includes increases to officers’ uniform allowance and medical stipends for retirees.

The city has about 225 sworn employees in the Police Department. An experienced officer hired from another department has a base starting wage of almost $75,000, according to the city’s website.

City Council members unanimously approved the raises with little discussion at their Tuesday meeting.

Torrance’s wage and pension costs have come in for repeated criticism by a small group of residents who attend City Council meetings. The Wall Street Journal recently noted the city spends the ninth highest amount in the nation — almost 25 percent of its annual operating budget — on pension benefits.

“People can criticize giving pay raises now, but I think Torrance is very proud to say we are one of the safest cities in the country and that just doesn’t happen by chance,” Mayor Frank Scotto said. “It happens because when we go out and hire people, we get the best.”